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Kelly Carrington Staff Writer The Flin Flon Bombers are sitting comfortably with 22 players on their roster this season. Following the Jan. 10 trade deadline, the team moved Conrad Szydlowski to Drayton Valley, Alta., and acquired Tanner Clark from Humboldt. The team now sits with seven 20-year-olds, four 19-year-olds, three 18-year-olds, four 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old. According to SJHL rules, a team can have a maximum of eight imported players. The Bombers have five. The SJHL says "an import is defined as a player who was not registered in the SHA the previous season." The league sets strict rules and regulations on the ages of players. For example, a team is allowed a maximum of nine 20-year-old players. "We've got seven, so we've got a good core of guys returning," said Bombers head coach and GM Mike Reagan. With 15 eligible players to return next year, the coach says the club has a "good strong list." "We believe in this team. I think we've got some good pieces to the puzzle," he adds. Following the trade deadline and getting Clark, the team had a few practices before heading to Yorkton this past weekend for a double header. Looking at the roster, Reagan was excited not only for this year, but next year as well. "Our back end is going to be really strong," he said. "We've got about five guys eligible to return on our back end and so we're excited about that." Best goalie As for the netminders, Reagan says he believes the Bombers have the best goaltender in the league in P.J. Musico. "...goaltending goes a long ways," said the coach. "Take a look at La Ronge. We outshot them in every game last year in the playoffs, but their goaltender made one more save then our goaltender." The Bombers sat in fifth place of the Bauer Conference heading into the weekend. With the playoffs quickly approaching, Reagan says his club is going to compete this year. Rather than taking on a few older players, the Bombers added Clark, 17, to their roster. "By no means are we not taking a run at this," Reagan said. "Just because we didn't add some older players doesn't mean we're packing it in and looking towards next year." The coach says there is a reason why the regular season is played. Looking at their record for 2010-11 thus far, the Bombers have gone a seven-game winning streak. As well, the team has seen a few losing skids. "But why can't we do that again?" asked Reagan, referring to the winning streak. "Why can't we do it in the playoffs? "It just comes come down to the guys." Knowing that the Bombers are going to have to "outwork" teams to get the wins, Reagan realizes the team has some challenges lying ahead. "Are we the most talented team in the league?" he asked. "No, but if we have enough work ethic, we've got (the) skills to get us by and hopefully we've got enough guys that are committed to working hard. "The second and third efforts are going to pay off for us in the playoffs." The Bombers look now to La Ronge as the team will take on the Ice Wolves at the Mel Hegland Arena tomorrow night.1/17/2011
